Monthly Archives: December 2016

The Microbiology Department at the University of Georgia invites applications for a Professorship in Medical Mycology at the rank of associate or full professor. On behalf of the search committee, I request your assistance in identifying outstanding candidates seeking to grow their research program. The Microbiology Department is home to an interactive and collaborative faculty with interests in many aspects of microbiology, including fungal biology and infectious disease (http://mib.uga.edu/). UGA is also home to a large, interdisciplinary fungal biology research group (http://fungi.uga.edu/). Additional resources and opportunities for collaboration are available through a partnership between UGA and the medical school at Augusta University. The scientific environment at UGA, the generous start-up package, and endowed funds to support research personnel and expenditures, make this an exciting opportunity. Individuals with an excellent record of scholarship and funding consistent with appointment at the rank of associate or early full professor are encouraged to apply online (http://facultyjobs.uga.edu/postings/1490).

POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITION studying the mechanisms of resistance to white-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging disease of bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Two years of funding is available through the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Pathobiological Sciences and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center located in Madison, WI. The primary objective of this project is to determine the biotic and abiotic properties of soil that reduce the abundance of infectious P. destructans in the environment. The specific objectives pertaining to WNS are to: 1) identify cave soils that suppress P. destructans, 2) characterize microbial communities and soil properties that may suppress P. destructans in the environment, and 3) investigate the potential to manipulate soils so that they are less conducive for the survival of P. destructans. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center conducts diagnostic work and research on numerous aspects of WNS and other wildlife diseases, and the selected candidate may have opportunities to work on additional projects as time and funding permit.

Qualifications

Qualified applicants should have a recent (last 1-3 years) Ph.D. with an emphasis in microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or a similar discipline. Applicants must have 1) a record of research and publications, 2) experience with next-generation sequencing, metagenomics, and microbial community analyses, 3) proficiency with real-time PCR, 4) ability to work independently and solve project objectives with limited assistance, 5) good written and oral communication skills, 6) ability to work with other scientists, and 7) interest in disease ecology. Experience with culturing bacteria and fungi from environmental samples and/or analysis of soil properties is preferred but not required. Interested applicants should send a cover letter outlining experience, research interests, and relevant coursework; a curriculum vitae; and contact information for three references to Dr. Jeffrey Lorch, US Geological Survey – National Wildlife Health Center at jlorch@usgs.gov (please cc applications to Dr. Tony Goldberg, University of Wisconsin-Madison at tony.goldberg@wisc.edu). Applicants should apply by December 31, 2016 to ensure consideration; however, applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Environmental Microbiology – experience working in natural systems, and in soil and/or air microbial ecology. A range of expertise between bacterial, archaeal, and fungal organisms, is preferred, including aeromicrobiology, and organisms with airborne spores (e.g., Coccidioides, Aspergilli, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, etc.). In addition, the environmental microbiologist should have experience working with plant-microbe interactions relevant to invasive plants.

DESCRIPTION

The University of California at Riverside (UCR) is implementing a major expansion of our faculty and investing in state-of-the-art research facilities to support their work. This expansion will build critical mass in 34 vital and emerging fields of scholarship, foster truly cross-disciplinary work, and further diversify the faculty at one of America’s most diverse research universities. We encourage applications from scholars committed to excellence and seeking to help define the research university for the next generation. For more information about our hiring initiative or to submit an application, please visit clusterhiring.ucr.edu or academicpersonnel.ucr.edu.

This announcement aims to fill up to five positions to help establish and build the BREATHE research group (Bridging Regional Ecology and Aerosolized Toxins to understand Health Effects) in interdisciplinary areas bringing together research in air quality, pulmonary biology and health, and public policy. Growth in research areas associated with this cluster will complement the impending move of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to the UCR campus. The placement of each successful candidate may be in departments in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) such as Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Environmental Sciences, and Biology; the School of Medicine (SOM) including the Division of Biomedical Sciences and Division of Clinical Sciences; the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) such as Chemical and Environmental Engineering; the School of Public Policy; and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS), such as History, depending on the preferences of the candidate and interested host departments. Candidates are expected to develop an internationally recognized and externally funded research program in one or more areas related to air quality, lung function and health, and policy, as well as demonstrate an interest in building and working with interdisciplinary research teams. All candidates must have a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in a relevant field and be strongly committed to both undergraduate and graduate teaching. Preference will be given to applicants whose research interests complement those of existing faculty in the School of Medicine, College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), School of Public Policy, and the Center for Conservation Biology, and strengthen our initiative to develop an extramurally funded research center in air quality, health, and policy. Successful candidates must also have clear potential or demonstrated ability to work successfully with and benefit a diverse student body.

The next four positions to be filled in the BREATHE cluster will be in the areas of (1) Environmental Microbiology, (2) Environmental or Medical History, (3) Mammalian Pulmonary physiology, and (4) Pulmonary or mucosal immunology at the Assistant Professor level. The successful candidates will have the ability to teach coursework and have expertise in the relevant areas. In addition, they will play a central role in helping assemble the cohort of affiliated researchers across the campus. This announcement solicits applications for these positions; applicants must indicate which of the four positions they are applying to:

Environmental Microbiology – experience working in natural systems, and in soil and/or air microbial ecology. A range of expertise between bacterial, archaeal, and fungal organisms, is preferred, including aeromicrobiology, and organisms with airborne spores (e.g., Coccidioides, Aspergilli, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, etc.). In addition, the environmental microbiologist should have experience working with plant-microbe interactions relevant to invasive plants.

Environmental or Medical History – history of science, medicine, and/or the environment, with preference for individuals interested in the connections among environment and health, and public policy, employing a mix of disciplinary approaches from such fields as environmental history, history of medicine, history of science, medical geography or historical geography.

Mammalian pulmonary physiology – research focus can be on, but is not limited to, lung physiology, including comparative, ecological or evolutionary approaches, exercise physiology, as well as clinical topics such as infectious lung diseases, lung microbiome, chronic lung disease, asthma, or related diseases.

Pulmonary or mucosal immunology – pulmonary inflammation or immunity, lung microbiome, chronic lung disease, asthma, or related diseases, with priority on research that also assesses the impact of inhaled particulates and pollutants, as well as other environmental, cultural or related factors.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

Advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.

To apply: Please send a full curriculum vitae, indication of the specific position applied for, a description of proposed research, teaching philosophy and letters from three professional references. A statement addressing potential contribution to academic diversity must be included. Application materials for the Assistant Professor position should be submitted through http://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JP00639. Applications will be reviewed beginning November 14, 2016. Positions will remain open until filled. Anticipated start date is July 1, 2017. Salary is commensurate with education and experience.